Bed & Breakfasts in Italy: The case of the Emilia-Romagna Region

The Bed & Breakfast is a booming industry in New Zealand. You can find this type of accommodation structures everywhere - from the city centers, to the countryside villages, to the coastal areas - taking the most disparate forms, from the bungalows of the extra-urban areas to the noble villas belonging to the same family for generations. In examining the motivations that surround the choice of lodging in New Zealand, Johnson Walker (1998) observed that B&B guests place far more emphasis on social interaction than do hotel guests, while aesthetics, setting and friendly staff are also regarded as extremely important.

Room rates are usually between NZ$120 and NZ$180 (for a double), but in some places you can even get to spend NZ$300. In fact, some B&Bs persist in practicing exaggerated prices for what, in fact, is simply a bedroom in a private home. Many high-level Bed & Breakfasts require reservations accompanied by a deposit at least one month in advance and have strict rules in case of cancellation: if, say, the guest cancels the reservation the week before the arrival date, he/she loses the entire deposit and must pay for the room. In some B&Bs, especially in remote areas and small towns with few restaurants, dinner is served: this formula is called "dinner, bed and breakfast" (DB&B).